Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-09
THE STARVING BABIES.
DR.. Love Gives Some Points About the
Treatment Of NaraSmus.

DR.. ]. n Love, OF st. Louis read before the Sec
ton OF diseases OF children, yesterday, practical
paper on 1nrintlle marasmuS, drawn from his owl
experience in treating obstinate cases. The term
marasmus, like malaria, is a misnomer, and eX-
presses but little as regards the pathology Of the
disease; 1t declares simply that our patient is
wasting away, repair on the part OF the tissues
having surrendered partially Or completely to de-
cay. A condition Of "marasmus," wasting, or
consumption occurs in all forms of exhaustng dis
eases, but the name is only applied In cases OF
wasting unaccompanied with fever or symptoms
pointing TO any weil-iefincd disease. 1t is more
frequently met with among the young and the
aged; but whether infantile Senile it Is usually
dependent upon similar causes and conditions.
Eliminating all cases clearly belonging to other
classcatons. there remain those cases OF wasting
or general atrophy, in which no fever or local
lesion can be discovered Pronounced pictures
they are, tOo after prolonged period OF progress
sion; muscles Shrunken and nabby, oSseuS pr0mi-
nences every where visible, with the pale, shriv-
eiied dry skin, hanging in broad folds and wrinkles
ABOUT them, like pair of loose and baggy trOus-
erS upon caflesS legs; face wlthered wrinklei and
worn, suggesting the miniature daguerreotype or
some elIdclated, tOOtnesS nag, the most pro-
nouaced features in the case being loss OF flesh,
loss or strength loss OF Color the complexion being
OF a dull leaden color. Having excluded All cases
OF wasting dependent upon tangible conditions
such as tuberculosis, congenital syphilis, intesti-
MAJ or gastric caturrh, &C, DR.. Love devoted his
can properly be called maraslnus After descrlb-
ing TYPICAL case In his own practice a baby that
was starving tnOuSn apparently furnished With
sufficient and proper treatment by the mother
Or. Love said he felt justified In deducing the
the following:
list. lniantie marasmus, so called, Is dependent
primarily upon torpidity and Inactivity OF the
giandular system, and aggravated by unsuitable,
over-abundant or insufficient food and unsanitary
surroundings.
I'd. II hat which is Of first importance In the
treatment is the arOuSement OF secretion and eX-
cretlon, and the most valuable remedy we have for
this purpose Is minute doses OF calOmel, given in
conjunction with as much water AS can conyen-
1ently be administered, the two agents, calomel
and water, both being ardent acceleratOrS OF
glandular action, stimulators OF the secretion OF
the digestive juices, true a1ders OF and abettors
digestion, and decided openers OF the damned up
organs OF dturesis, and awakenerS OF the dormant
organs OF defeca1On cleanserS OF the vital sewer
age system.
Sd. In the matter OF diet, the mothers milk is
best, aud some other mot hers milk next best.
Whether mothers milk artificial food be given,
the Quantity and quality should be most Carefully
guarded. In many Instances the liquid raw meat
foods In small quantities, we'll diluted and re-
quently given Will be OF great service. All artiti-
clal 1000 should he prcdigested.
4th. In extreme Cases, the administration OF
.J,ibr foods Ia the form Of baths, aud by gentle
nlt:.on will lie OF value, and In all cases gentle
;niss.t,a and frequent bathing sometimes adding
a.G!slole atiIiiiiuts to lle wateD are OF great
a:EFct nue.. 81 the water being directly absorbed
u Che nuAgry All thirsty tissues.